I’m new to woodworking and even newer to Lumberjocks. I hate that this is my first post but I’ve googled myself crazy looking for black lid support hinges but it seems that brass is the overwhelming type available.

I’ve attached a picture of the type of hinge I’m looking for and if anyone can tell me where I can purchase black ones like it I would forever be in your debt.

I am not sure exactly the type of hinge you need. You said a lid hinge, suggesting a jewelry box or a blanket chest. The hinge you show is a leg support hinge that locks a folding table leg in position. This hinge is not very strong for a blanket chest lid and will fail, if this is the application.

The hinge style you show suggests a knife hinge or a “stay flat hinge”. There are other styles, including those with a minimum profile designed for heavy lids.

But in the end, you may have to take Woodchuck2010’s advice and paint the hinge. If so, abrade the surface with a little sanding with a 220 grit paper, clean the surface wall, and apply spray paint in multiple coats to avoid runs.

Here are a couple of links, but I am not sure they offer exactly what you need:

Your picture looks more like a Stanley folding leg bracket than a lid support? Make sure you check your dimensions. I couldn’t find any black lid supports either. Closest I could find was an antique bronze which is almost black. There are a bunch of those on Amazon. If you really want black, you may have to paint it.

-- Nathan, TX -- Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

My apologies for not being more specific. The hinges will be used on hope/blanket chests with box type lids (they’re two that someone asked me to make for them that they’re purchasing). I would use two of them, one on either side. I’ve seen others that use the same type of hinge on the same type of chests and no one has complained about them, that I’m aware of. Their hinges appear to be black but they could have painted them too.

I have considered painting them but since they’re being purchased I worry about the paint peeling over time, especially with the lid being raised and lowered, and giving them an ugly appearance. I’ll try the scuff method and use some self-etching primer and see how that does. If you have experience painting brass plated items does this method work very well?

Although not the same style you’ve shown, Rockler’s torsion box hinges work well, and are super easy to install. You calculate the hinge strength you need based on your top size, and they will stay in the position you leave them, meaning no slamming shut. They also keep the sides clear of pinch points, or an arm that may interfere with the box contents. They’re not cheap, though, they’re $55/pair. I used them on a toy box I made, and I would use them again.

-- - The mightiest oak in the forest is just a little nut that held its ground.

Lazyman – I’ll look into those. I saw those during my search but didn’t really give them much thought as they weren’t the right color. I may get them and paint them.

BinghamtonEd – I saw the Rockler hinges too but as you said they’re not cheap. Those alone cost more than the wood I have in the project…lol. I’ll have to forego those until I build a piece worthy of their price tag.

One alternative that costs almost nothing but takes a more time and thought is to build your own pin style hinge system. The biggest issue I see with a pin hinge system is incorporating it into the design so that it looks good. Another important issue with a pin hinge system is that there is nothing that keeps the lid from slamming shut. However, the hinge would be almost invisible.

Assuming the inside of the lid aligns with the inside of the chest, a pair of short pieces of wood with a hole bored into one end of the each piece of wood would represent half of the hinge. These pieces of wood are installed vertically but slightly angled to the back in the back inside corners of the chest with the holes facing the sides of the lid. Mating holes in the lid would accept a dowel. Clearance along the back top edge of the chest would be required so the lid does not bind when opening. The bottom edge of the opened lid would contact the slightly angled vertical pieces of wood and would allow the lid to remain open.